Authors

Title

Year

2015

Series

Upjohn Institute working paper ; 15-241

**Published Version**

Journal of Labor Research 36(3)(September 2015): 249-273

DOI

10.17848/wp15-241

Abstract

Despite concern regarding labor market discrimination against Hispanics, previously published estimates show that Hispanic women earn higher hourly wages than white women with similar observable characteristics. This estimated wage premium is likely biased upwards because of the omission of an important control variable: cost of living. We show that Hispanic women live in locations (e.g., cities) with higher costs of living than whites. After we account for cost of living, the estimated Hispanic-white wage differential for non-immigrant women falls by approximately two-thirds. As a result, we find no statistically significant difference in wages between Hispanic and white women in the NLSY97.

Issue Date

March 2015

Sponsorship

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Early Career Research Award grant 13-141-04